Casket sealing and locking device



Jan. 3, 1956 E. F. HARTER 2,728,973

CASKET SEALING AND LOCKING DEVICE Filed March 18, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet lATTORNEYS Jan. 3, 156 E. F. HARTER CASKET SEALING AND LOCKING DEVICE 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 18, 1955 EDGAR FAY HARTER Arwr ATTORNEYSUnited States; Pa c 9 Claims. (Cl. 27-17) assignor to The Ohio,

My present invention relates to improvements in casket latching andsealing mechanisms.

The invention particularly contemplates the provision of means foreffectively securing the lid of the casket upon the body in air tightrelation and which means are operable conveniently by a director of afuneral service from a single point along the forward wall of thecasket.

The invention further contemplates the provision of novel locking andsealing mechanisms which can be manufactured on a production basis at areasonable cost.

The invention will be more fully understood by reference to thefollowing detailed description and accompanying drawings wherein theinvention is illustrated in connection with a full couch casket.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a full couch casket embodying theimproved mechanisms of this invention;

Fig. 2-is a sectional view on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 .is an enlarged view'taken on line 33 of Fig. 1 illustrating indetail the principal. components of the mechanism of this invention;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken through the back wall of the casketillustrating the hinge and seal arrangement for the rear wall;

-Fig. 5 is an enlarged view partially in section taken on line 55 ofFig. 3 and illustrating the locking mechanism in the unlocked position;I

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 66' of Fig. 3 illustrating thelatching mechanism inunlatched position;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of the structure of Fig. 5; Ja

Fig. 8 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 5 but illustrating themechanism in locked position;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view similar to that of'Fig. 6 but illustratingthe latching mechanism in the latched position;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged elevational view of the latching and lockingmechanism taken from the inward side of the casket;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view with a portion of the front wall of thecasket removedillustrating the general arrangement of the lockingmechanism arranged for actuation from a central point on the forwardwall of the casket; and

Fig. 12 is a view partially in section illustrating an arrangement of afurther embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings there is indicated generally at 1 in Fig. 1 afull couch casket having a body 3 and a lid 5 which is adapted to beclosed on and sealed to the body. Although the casket illustrated is ofthe full couch type it will be understood that the invention describedwill apply also to a casket of the half couch type.

The body 3 comprises on the upper side thereof (Figs. 3-6 inclusive) aninwardly extending peripheral rim 7; a gasket 9 secured on the rimextends entirely around the casket and is adapted to receive the lid 5thereon for sealing the'interiorof the-casketfrom.theentry .of air,

2,728,971 Patented Jan. 3, 19 56,

2 water and other materials which tend to leak into the casket body..

Referring now to Fig. 4, the rear of the body 3 of the casket isarranged to support hinges such as indicated at 11 and in the closedposition of the lid 5 the gasket, 9 is compressed andeffectively sealsthe rear of the casket body.

The mechanism carried on the forward wall of the casket and illustratedin the unlocked positionin Figs. 3, 5 and 6 insures that the lid 5 maybe brought'into locked sealing engagement with the gasket 9 on the body.This locking and sealing mechanism comprises a vertical portion 13'(Fig. 5) of the casket forward wall; secured interiorly to this wallportion 13 beneath the rim 7 is a bored screw holder block 15. Alock-opening 16 (Fig. 3) through the wall portion 13 communicateswiththe bore in the screw holder block.

The bore of the block 15 comprises a first recess 17 which receivestherein the rounded head 19 of a sockethead or cap screw; the head 19abuts the seat 20 formed by recess 17 and entry of the screw into thecasket is restricted.

The threaded shank 21 of the screw passes through the bore beyond theblock interiorly of the casket and closely and rotatably engages thesides of restricted passage 22 of the bore of the block. The shankcarries a traveling locking nut 23 which is movable between the block 15and a trough-shaped sheet metal support bracket 25 secured by a weld tothe rim 7 and resiliently engaging the inner side of the wall portion13; if desired the lower trough-shaped end of bracket 25 may be weldedto wall portion 13. The shank 21 passes rotatably through an aperture ofbracket 25 and the threaded shank end receives a retaining washer 27which is itself held positioned against the support bracket by nut 29.Thus the screw is rotatably mounted but fixed against rectilinealmovement.

The screw holder block 15 is recessed on its inner face to provide ashoulder around the block bore; impervious washer 31 seats in the recesssnugly engaging the shoulder thereof in the unlocked position of themechanism. The resilient washer 31 and the recess are larger than thepassage 22 and the washer is of greater thickness than the recess andhence protrudes from the inner face of block 15 (Figures 3 and 5).Further the washer closely surrounds the shank 21 of the fixed screw.The washer is suitably of rubber or other similar material and pressureon the washer causes the washer to securely engage about the screw shankto seal the interior of the casket from the passage of air throughlock-opening 16 and the bore of the mechanism. e

The traveling locking nut 23 is generally cylindrica and of a size topass into the shouldered recess against the' washer 31 when the screw isrotated to locking position. The washer then in the locked position isadapted to exert a resilient pressure against the nut and to also sealthe bore. Most suitably the traveling locking nut 23 is recessed on theface which engages the washer 31 to provide a conical bearing surfacefor the washer; this enhances the action which causes the washer 31 tosecurely engage the shank for the washer is urged against the shank andthis effectively aids in the sealing of the bore and lock-opening 16 bythe washer.

The shank 21 is itself partially bored out inwardly of screw head 19 asindicated at 35 (Fig. 5) and the shank receives the long cylindrical endof a handle 37 which at 38 is hexagonally shaped for engagement in thehexagonally shaped recess 40 of head 19. Turning of handle 37 rotatesthe cap screw and occasions rectilineal movement of traveling nut 23;the long cylindrical end portion 3 of handle 37 insures of firmengagement of the handle in the screw.

The locking nut 23 is restrained from rotational movement with the screwby its connection with the pull-down or latching mechanism of the casketwhich mechanism functions to securely position and retain the casket lidon gasket 9,

. The generally cylindrical locking nut 23 is slotted as at 42 (Fig. 7)on opposed sides to receive the upper ends of fingers 39. These fingersare secured in rock-shaft 41 which extends longitudinally of the frontwall of the casket. below the locking and sealing mechanism; the fingersmay be individually mounted or as is shown in Fig. 7 the fingers may becarried on a plate 43 retained as by a weld in rock-shaft 41. In eitherevent the fingers 39 engage in the slots 42 to permit movement of thefingers rectilineally with the locking nut 23; however the fingers arein substantially abutting relation with the nut 23 laterally (Figs. 5and 7). This arrangement locks the fingers and the shaft 41 againstmovement longitudinally of the casket wall and at the same time anytendency of the nut 23 to rotate with the screw is inhibited.

It is apparent from the foregoing that operation of handle 37 effectsrotation of rock-shaft 41.

The shaft 41 fixedly carries suitably spaced thereon latch plates 45(Fig. 6) each of which are provided with a horn 47. The horns 47 arearcuate in form and are adapted to engage in openings of keepers 49(Fig. when the lid is simply closed upon gasket 9. The keepers 49 haveangled portions 50 which are passed through openings in the lid and aresecured to the lid. As shown most clearly in Figs. 6 and 9 the horn 47is shaped to pass through the opening in the keeper 49 and to exert acamming action on the keeper to thereby tightly draw the lid down on thegasket 9. Thus movement of handle 37 will cause nut 23 to move againstfingers 39 to rotate the same; this action rocks the shaft 41 toward theforward wall of the casket to effect engagement of the latch plates withthe keepers when the lid is down.

As indicated in Fig. 11 four latch plates are suflicient for the usualcasket and all may be actuated simultaneously from a position centrallyof the casket.

The rock-shaft 41 is supported by hangers 51 which depend from and aresecured to the rim 7. Suitably one hanger is provided adjacent eachlatch plate and the shaft 41 terminates at each end short of the extremeend of the forward wall. Most conveniently the support hangers areangled brackets of a heavy gauge metal bored to receive the shaft 41snugly therethrough. The shaft 41 turns readily in such hangers and theexpense and weight of elaborate bearings is avoided.

When the cap screw is rotated to close the casket in sealing engagementwith the gasket 9 the latch plates move in planes perpendicular to theforward wall of the casket and bear downwardly on the latch members orkeepers carried by the lid. At the same time the traveling nut 23 isresiliently engaged against the washer 31, which deforms slightly underthe pressure, and this resilient contact permits secure drawing of thelid into engagement with the peripheral gasket 9.

A further embodiment of the inventive structure is illustrated in Figure12 for use in connection with caskets having an inner seal. The rim orledge 7' in this instance is shown. as depressed to receive a gasket 9';the locking and sealing mechanism except for the inner seal arrangementand the support of the keeper are similar to that already described andaccordingly the same numerals, but primed, have been used forcorresponding parts.

An inner frame 53 is adapted in the arrangement of Figure 12 to beclosed upon the casket body prior to the closing of an outer lid 54.This inner frame carries a support structure 55 for the keeper 57 andthe keeper is secured to structure 55 by screw 59. The keeper passesthrough an opening in the rim 7' to be engaged by the latch plate 45'. Aresilient gasket 60' surrounding the keeper seals the interior of thecasket from the passage of air past the keeper; a cape 62 may beprovided to exert pressure on the gasket 60 in the closed position.Otherwise the inventive structural arrangement is substantiallyidentical to that described in connection with Figures 1 to 11.

It is to be noted that applicant has provided a structural arrangementwhich permits locking and sealing of the casket in one easy motion; itis further to be noted that substantially the whole structure to effectthis locking and sealing occupies very little space and is substantiallywholly within the confines of the peripheral rim 7.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modificationin order to adopt it to different usages and conditions and accordinglyit is desired to comprehend such modifications within this invention asmay fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a casket, latching and closing mechanism supported within the bodyof the casket along a forward wall thereof for closing the lid of thecasket into sealed contact with the body, said mechanism comprising aplurality of first latching members adapted to cooperate with pulldownlatching members on the casket lid, a rock-shaft carrying the firstlatching members and rockable to actuate said members simultaneously,said rock-shaft extending along the forward wall within the casket body,a rotatably mounted threaded element supported within the body, fixedagainst rectilineal movement, and extending transversely to the saidforward wall and to the rockshaft, a nut threadedly engaging the elementand movable rectilineally therealong upon rotation of the threadedelement, and means secured to the rock-shaft operably connecting therock-shaft to the nut for rockable movement of the rock-shaft uponrectilineal movement of the nut.

2. In a casket, latching and closing mechanism supported within the bodyof the casket along a forward wall thereof for pulling the lid of thecasket into closed sealed contact with the body, said mechanismcomprising a plurality of first vertically extending latching membersadapted to cooperate with latching members on the casket lid, arock-shaft carrying the first latching members and rockable to actuatesaid members simultaneously, said rock-shaft extending along the forwardwall within the casket body and terminating between the ends thereof, arotatably mounted threaded element supported within the body, fixedagainst rectilineal movement, and extending transversely to the saidforward wall and to the rock-shaft in spaced vertical relation with therock-shaft, a nut threadedly engaging the threaded element and movablerectilineally therealong upon rotation of the threaded element, andmeans secured to the rock-shaft operably connecting the rock-shaft tothe nut for rockable movement of the rock-shaft upon rectilinealmovement of the nut, said means comprising fingers extending from therockshaft and closely engaging the nut in either side thereof.

3. A locking and sealing mechanism mounted within a casket body forlatching the lid of the casket into sealed contact with the bodycomprising a series of latching members adapted to cooperate withlatching members on the lid, said first latching members having a shaftinterconnecting the same and said members each being movable in a planetoward the forward wall of the casket to efiect latching, a headedscrew, a screw holder block secured to the casket forward wall, saidheaded screw being rotatably mounted through said block and having ashank extending interiorly of the casket transversely to the forwardwall and said shaft and in spaced vertical relation with the shaft, atraveling nut on the shank operably connected to the shaft, a resilient,impervious washer between the block and nut, carried by the block andclosely surrounding the shank of the screw, said washer beingcompressible by the nut on movement of the nut and shaft toward theforward Wall of the casket.

4. In combination with a casket, casket lock-opening sealing mechanismcomprising a bored block secured at the casket lock opening and the boreof which block communicates with the lock-opening, the block having arecess providing a shoulder around the bore and another recess providinga seat around the bore adjacent the lock-opening, a headed screw fixedagainst rectilineal movement passing rotatably through said bore beyondthe block interiorly of the casket and having the head thereof abuttingsaid seat and the shank thereof threaded and surrounded by saidshoulder, a traveling nut on said shank movable into substantialabutment with said block at said shoulder upon rotation of said screw,and a resilient impervious washer on said shoulder surrounding saidshank closely and compressible between said shoulder and nut to sealsaid bore and said lock opening.

5. In combination with a casket, casket lock-opening sealing mechanismcomprising a bored block secured to the casket around the lock-openingand the bore of which block communicates with the lock-opening, theblock having a first recess providing a seat around the bore and asecond opposed recess providing a shoulder around the bore, a headedscrew fixed against rectilineal movement passing rotatably through thebore beyond the block interiorly of the casket and having the screw headabutting said seat, said screw having the shank thereof threaded andsurrounded by said shoulder, a traveling nut on said shank and movablerectilineally upon rotation of said screw into substantial abutment withsaid block at said shoulder, a resilient impervious washer on saidshoulder closely surrounding said shank and in contact therewith, saidwasher extending beyond said block toward said nut, said nut having theface thereof toward said washer recessed, and said washer beingdeformable between said recessed face of said nut and said shoulder toseal said bore and lock-opening.

6. In combination, in apparatus sealing a lock opening in a casket wall,the mechanism comprising a rotatably mounted headed screw, screwretaining means retaining the screw against rectilineal movement andcomprising a bored block secured to the casket at the lock opening andthe bore of which block communicates with said lock opening, said boreincluding a first recess forming a seat in the block, a second opposedrecess forming a shoulder in the block and a bore passage portionconnecting the recesses, the fixed screw having a head thereof engagedagainst said seat and a shank thereof extending through said bore beyondsaid block interiorly of the casket, said shank being threaded, atraveling nut on said shank and movable rectilineally upon rotation ofsaid fixed screw into substantial abutment with said block at saidsecond recess, and a resilient impervious washer on said shoulder insaid second recess closely surrounding said shank and compressiblebetween said nut and block against said shank to seal said bore and lockopening.

In combination with a casket having a lock-opening in a forward wallthereof, a bored block supported by the wall at the lock-opening andhaving the bore thereof communicable with the opening, a headed screwpassing rotatably through the bore of the block and retained by theblock against rectilineal movement inwardly of the casket, the screwhaving a threaded shank thereof extending interiorly of the casketbeyond the block, a traveling nut on the shank movable into substantialabutment with the block upon screw rotation, a rock-shaft in verticalrelation with the screw extending transversely thereto and along theforward wall of the casket, latch members carried by the rock-shaft andmovable in unison with the shaft toward the forward wall to latchingposition, means harnessing the rockshaft to the traveling nut forrocking of the shaft upon movement of the nut, and a resilientimpervious washer closely surrounding the screw shank, positionedbetween the nut and block, supported by the block and adapted to beresiliently compressed into sealing engagement against the shank andblock by the nut in the moving of the rockshaft to latching position.

8. In combination with a casket having a lock-opening in a forward wallthereof and also having a rim extending from the wall inwardly of thecasket body, a bored block supported by the wall at the lock-openingbeneath the rim and having the bore thereof communicable with theopening, a headed screw passing rotatably through the bore of the blockand retained by the block against rectilineal movement inwardly of thecasket, the screw having a threaded shank thereof extending interiorlyof the casket beyond the block, a traveling nut on the shank movableinto substantial abutment with the block upon screw rotation, aplurality of hangers depending from the rim and spaced along the forwardwall, a rock-shaft in vertical relation with the headed screw extendingtransversely thereto and supported by the hangers along the forward wallof the casket, said shaft terminating between the ends of the wall,latch members carried by the rock-shaft and movable in unison with theshaft toward the forward wall to latching position, means harnessing therock-shaft to the traveling nut for rocking of the shaft upon movementof the nut, said harnessing means engaging the nut laterally andinhibiting movement of the rock-shaft along the forward wall withrespect to the nut, and a resilient impervious washer, closelysurrounding the screw shank, positioned between the nut and blocksupported by the block and adapted to be resiliently compressed sealablyagainst the shank and block by the nut in the moving of the rock-shaftto latching position.

9. In locking and sealing mechanism, a block having a bore therethrough,said bore including a first recess providing a seat, a headed screwpassing rotatably through said bore and having the head thereof abuttingsaid seat, said screw being fixed against rectilineal movement, a nutthreaded on said screw and movable rectilineally along the screw shankupon rotation of the screw, said nut being cylindrical and having asubstantially circular face towards said block, said block having asecond recess defining a shoulder around said bore and into which recesssaid nut is movable, and a resilient impervious washer on said shoulderand in contact with said shank therearound, said face of said nut beingrecessed to provide a conical seat, and said washer being deformable bysaid conical seat and nut into sealing engagement with said shank.

Purkiss June 2, 1942 Purkiss July 6, 1943

